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Neonatal hypoglycemia after initiation of late preterm antenatal corticosteroids

Journal of Perinatology volume 40, pages 1339–1348 (2020)Cite this article

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Abstract

Objective

To compare the frequency and severity of neonatal hypoglycemia in pregnancies treated with and without late preterm antenatal corticosteroids.

Study design

We conducted a retrospective cohort study of late preterm deliveries at LAC + USC (2015–2018). Neonatal outcomes were compared between pregnancies treated with and without corticosteroids.

Results

93 pregnancies (39.9%) received corticosteroids and 140 (60.1%) did not. Neonates born to women given corticosteroids were more likely to be hypoglycemic (47.3 vs. 29.3%, ORadj 2.25, padj = 0.01). The mean initial glucose (45.6 mg/dL vs. 51.9 mg/dL, p = 0.01) and glucose nadir (39.1 mg/dL vs. 45.4 mg/dL, p < 0.001) were significantly lower if the neonates received corticosteroids. Neonates admitted to the NICU solely for hypoglycemia were more likely to be born to women treated with corticosteroids (ORadj 4.71, padj = 0.01).

Conclusion

Administration of late preterm corticosteroids was associated with an increased incidence and severity of neonatal hypoglycemia.

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Funding

EC was the recipient of the 2017 Keck School of Medicine Summer Research Fellowship Award to support her work on the conduct of this research.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Kristen R. Uquillas & Richard H. Lee

  2. Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Smeeta Sardesai & Lorayne Barton

  3. Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Ellison Chen

  4. Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Ugonna Ihenacho & Victoria K. Cortessis

  5. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Victoria K. Cortessis

Authors
  1. Kristen R. Uquillas
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  2. Richard H. Lee
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  3. Smeeta Sardesai
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  4. Ellison Chen
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  5. Ugonna Ihenacho
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  6. Victoria K. Cortessis
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  7. Lorayne Barton
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Contributions

KRU designed the study, acquired data, and was the primary author of the Institutional Review Board proposal and manuscript. RHL helped design the study, write the Institutional Review Board proposal, interpret the data, and edit the manuscript. SS helped design the study, write the Institutional Review Board proposal, interpret the data, and edit the manuscript. EC acquired data and helped write the manuscript. UI performed the statistical analysis and helped write the manuscript. VKC developed the statistical analysis plan, oversaw statistical analysis, and helped write the manuscript. LB helped design the study, write the Institutional Review Board proposal, interpret the data, and edit the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kristen R. Uquillas.

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The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Uquillas, K.R., Lee, R.H., Sardesai, S. et al. Neonatal hypoglycemia after initiation of late preterm antenatal corticosteroids. J Perinatol 40, 1339–1348 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-020-0589-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-020-0589-1

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